Flat panel display apparatus with grounded PCB

ABSTRACT

A flat panel display apparatus comprises a flat panel display module; a control PCB placed in one rear edge area of the flat panel display module and having a conductive grounding part; and a grounding contact member including a rear contact part contacting the grounding part of the control PCB, and a side contact part bent from the rear contact part and contacting one edge of the flat panel display module, and grounding the control PCB. With this configuration, the present invention provides a flat panel display apparatus in which a control PCB having the length shorter than the width of a flat panel display module is easily grounded and the production cost thereof is decreased.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.2002-0086901, filed Dec. 30, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flat panel display apparatus, andmore particularly, to a flat panel display apparatus improved in agrounding structure of a control PCB (printed circuit board).

2. Description of the Related Art

A flat panel display apparatus includes an LCD (liquid crystal display),a PDP (plasma display panel), a VFD (vacuum fluorescent display), an FED(field emission display), an ELD (electro luminescence display), etc.

Making of the LCD includes arranging a plurality of TFTs (thin filmtransistors) onto a transparent glass substrate through a semiconductorthin film process, and forming a pixel electrode related to each TFT.Here, the transparent glass substrate containing the TFTs will be calleda TFT array substrate.

In correspondence to the pixel electrode formed on the TFT arraysubstrate, there is provided a common electrode formed on a color filtersubstrate so as to allow an electric field to be produced between thepixel electrode and the common electrode when voltage is applied to thepixel electrode. Here, the color filter substrate is spaced from the TFTarray substrate at a predetermined distance. Further, between the TFTarray substrate and the color filter substrate are filled liquidcrystals which move according to the electric field.

Methods of bonding an LCD driver IC (integrated chip) to the TFT arraysubstrate,include a TAB (tape automated bonding) method, a COG (chip onglass) method, etc.

In the TAB method, the LCD driver IC is attached to a flexible TCP (tapecarrier package), and a first end of the TCP is connected to one frontedge of the TFT array substrate and a second end thereof is connected toa source PCB (printed circuit board). Then, the source PCB is connectedto a control PCB.

In the COG method, the LCD driver IC is directly mounted on the TFTarray substrate by flip chip technology, being connected with a gatebus-line and a data bus-line formed on the TFT array substrate. Then,the TFT array substrate is connected to the control PCB through an FPC(flexible printed circuit). Here, the FPC is connected to the gate anddata bus-lines in the middle of the one front edge of the TFT arraysubstrate on which the LCD driver IC is mounted, thereby transmitting apredetermined control signal from the control PCB to the LCD driver IC.The COG method can decrease the packaging size and the production costof the LCD, so that a COG type LCD is being widely used today.

The control PCB is provided in the rear of the flat panel display moduleon which a picture is displayed. While the LCD operates, the control PCBproduces an EMI (electromagnetic interference) disturbing theperformance of the LCD, e.g., deteriorating the picture being displayed.Therefore, the control PCB should be grounded so as to prevent the EMI.

Generally, in the case of the LCD like a TAB type LCD, in which thelength of the control PCB or the source PCB is approximately equal tothe width of the flat panel display module, either the control PCB orthe source PCB is provided with a conductive grounding part on oppositeends thereof, and the conductive grounding part is combined to a chassisforming an outer enclosure of the flat panel display module with screws,so that the control PCB is both grounded and combined to the chassis.

However, if the LCD has the control PCB whose length is shorter than thewidth of the flat panel display module, it is difficult to ground thecontrol PCB in the above-described manner. For example, in the case ofthe COG type LCD, the control PCB is placed in the middle of the rearedge area of the flat panel display module, and the FPC has the widthshorter than that of the flat panel display module and is placed in themiddle of the edge of the flat panel, so that it is difficult to groundthe control PCB in the above-described manner using the screws.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a flatpanel display apparatus in which a control PCB having the length shorterthan the width of a flat panel display module is easily grounded.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious formthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are achieved byproviding a flat panel display apparatus comprising a flat panel displaymodule; a control PCB placed in one rear edge area of the flat paneldisplay module and having a conductive grounding part; and a groundingcontact member including a rear contact part contacting the groundingpart of the control PCB, and a side contact part bent from the rearcontact part and contacting one edge of the flat panel display module,and grounding the control PCB.

According to an aspect of the invention, the control PCB has the lengthshorter than the width of the flat panel display module, and is placedin an approximate middle portion of an upper rear edge area of the flatpanel display module.

According to an aspect of the invention, the flat panel displayapparatus further comprises a PCB cover placed behind the control PCBand combined to the flat panel display module so as to protect thecontrol PCB.

According to an aspect of the invention, the grounding contact member isattached to the grounding part of the control PCB by an adhesive means.

According to an aspect of the invention, the PCB cover includes a rearcovering part covering behind the control PCB, and a side combining partbent from the PCB covering part and combined to a side part of the flatpanel display module.

According to an aspect of the invention, the rear covering part of thePCB cover is formed with a grounding hole corresponding to the groundingpart of the control PCB, and the side combining part of the PCB cover isformed with a cutting part through which the side contact part of thegrounding contact member can contact the side part of the flat paneldisplay module.

According to an aspect of the invention, on the rear surface of the flatpanel display module is formed a supporting rib protruding toward thecontrol PCB and contact-supporting circumference of the control PCB atleast partially so as to leave a space between the control PCB and therear surface of the flat panel display module.

According to an aspect of the invention, an edge area of the control PCBis formed with a supporting hole, and the supporting rib is formed witha supporting boss protruding toward the control PCB and inserted intothe supporting hole of the control PCB.

According to an aspect of the invention, the flat panel display modulecomprises an LCD panel displaying a picture thereon, a backlightassembly provided in the rear of the LCD panel and illuminating the LCDpanel, and a chassis surrounding the circumference of the LCD panel.

According to an aspect of the invention, the backlight assemblycomprises a light guide plate placed in the rear of the LCD panel, alamp unit illuminating the light guide plate, and a mold frame placed inthe rear of the light guide plate and combined with the chassis so as toaccommodate and support the light guide plate and the lamp unit, and thecontrol PCB is placed in one rear edge area of the mold frame.

According to an aspect of the invention, on the rear surface of the moldframe is formed a supporting rib protruding toward the control PCB.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanydrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded rear perspective view of an LCD apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a control PCB, a flat paneldisplay module and a PCB cover before they are combined together in theLCD apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the state that the control PCBand the PCB cover are combined to the rear of the flat panel displaymodule of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

In these embodiments, a COG type LCD will be exemplarily described as aflat panel display apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a COG type LCD according to the presentinvention comprises a flat panel display module 10 on which a picture isdisplayed; a control PCB 30 placed in one rear edge area of the flatpanel display module 10 and provided with a conductive grounding part 32on the rear surface thereof; and a grounding contact member 50 allowingthe grounding part 32 of the control PCB 30 to contact the flat paneldisplay module 10. The flat panel display module 10 and the control PCB30 are covered with front and rear cases (not shown), to thereby beaccommodated and supported therein.

The flat panel display module 10 comprises an LCD panel 12 displaying apicture thereon, a backlight assembly 20 provided in the rear of the LCDpanel 12 and illuminating the LCD panel 12, and a chassis 18 combinedwith a mold frame 28 (to be described later) of the backlight assembly20 so as to surround front edges of the LCD display panel 12.

The LCD panel 12 includes a TFT array substrate formed with switchingdevices and pixel electrodes, a color filter substrate, and a liquidcrystal filled between the TFT array substrate and the color filtersubstrate. On the TFT array substrate is mounted with a plurality of LCDdriver ICs by flip chip technology, and each LCD driver IC is connectedwith a gate bus-line and a data bus-line formed on the TFT arraysubstrate. The LCD driver IC is connected to a first end of an FPC(flexible printed circuit) 14, and a second end of the FPC 14 isconnected to the control PCB 30. Here, the FPC 14 is connected to thegate and data bus-lines in the middle of one surface edge area of theTFT array substrate on which the LCD driver IC is mounted, therebytransmitting a predetermined control signal from the control PCB to theLCD driver IC. Thus, a video control signal is transmitted from thecontrol PCB 30 to the LCD driver IC through the FPC 14, and the LCDdriver IC controls a plurality of transistors of the TFT array substrateaccording to the video control signal to display a picture with lightfrom the backlight assembly 20. Here, the width of the FPC 14 is smallerthan that of the backlight assembly 20. Further, the FPC 14 bends overan upper edge of the backlight assembly 20 in the approximate middle ofthe upper edge, thereby positioning the control PCB 30 connecting withthe FPC 14 in the rear of the backlight assembly 20.

Behind the LCD panel 12 is provided the backlight assembly 20 touniformly illuminate the LCD panel 12. The backlight assembly 20comprises a lamp unit 22, a light guide plate 24, an optical sheet layer26, a reflector 27, and the mold frame 28 supporting them.

The lamp unit 22 is placed in a side part of the light guide plate 24,and includes a lamp 22 a emitting light, and a lamp reflector 22 breflecting the light from the lamp 22 a into the light guide plate 24.The light guide plate 24 guides the light from the lamp 22 a uniformlytoward the optical sheet layer 26. The reflector 27 is placed behind thelight guide plate 24 and reflects the light directing to the reflector27 into the light guide plate 24, thereby decreasing a light loss. Theoptical sheet layer 26 is placed in front of the light guide plate 24 soas to enhance brightness of the LCD, etc.

The mold frame 28 is placed in the rear of the flat panel display module10. On the rear surface of the mold frame 28 is formed a supporting rib28 a protruding toward the control PCB 30 so as to contact-support thecircumference of the control PCB 30 at least partially. The supportingrib 28 a contacts the circumference of the control PCB 30 when thecontrol PCB 30 is positioned in the rear of the backlight assembly 20according as the FPC 14 is bent, thereby leaving a space between thecontrol PCB 30 and the mold frame 28. Thus, a plurality of chips mountedon the control PCB 30 and facing the mold frame 28 is protected fromdamage due to the contact with the mold frame 28.

The supporting rib 28 a is formed with a supporting boss 28 b protrudingtoward the control PCB 30 and inserted into a supporting hole 30 bformed on the control PCB 30. Thus, the control PCB 30 is prevented fromplanar-moving in the state that it is positioned on the rear of thebacklight assembly 20.

The chassis 18 has a rectangular shape like the mold frame 28, with afront opening 18 a to expose the LCD panel 12. Corners of the chassis 18are bent along corners of the mold frame 28, thereby surrounding thecircumference of the mold frame 28. Thus, a side contact part 54 (to bedescribed later) of the grounding contact member 50 contacts a side part18 b of the chassis 18, thereby grounding the control PCB 30. Thechassis 18 is generally made of conductive stainless material, and maybe made of other conductive material.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the control PCB 30 is positioned in therear of the mold frame 28 behind the flat display module 10, and isconnected to the LCD driver IC through the FPC 14, thereby controllingthe video control signal transmitted to the LCD driver IC. Here, thecontrol PCB 30 has the length shorter than the width of the flat paneldisplay module 10, and is, as shown in FIG. 3, placed in the approximatemiddle portion of an upper rear edge area of the flat panel displaymodule 10.

On the rear of the control PCB 30 is provided the conductive groundingpart 32. Thus, the grounding part 32 contacts a rear contact part 52 ofthe grounding contact member 50 behind the control PCB 30.

The grounding contact member 50 includes the rear contact part 52 beingin contact with the grounding part 32 of the control PCB 30, and theside contact part 54 bent from the rear contact part 52 and being incontact with the side part 18 b of the chassis 18. Here, the groundingcontact member 50 is made of conductive material foil such as aluminumfoil, copper foil, etc., thereby grounding the control PCB 30 to theflat panel display module 10.

The rear contact part 52 contacts the grounding part 32 of the controlPCB 30 in the rear of the control PCB 30. Here, if the grounding part 32is provided on the front of the control PCB 30, the rear contact part 52of the grounding contact member 50 is placed between the flat paneldisplay module 10 and the control PCB 30 and contacts the grounding part32 of the control PCB 30 from front of the control PCB 30.

The side contact part 54 is bent from the rear contact part 52, andcontacts the side part 18 b of the chassis 18 surrounding thecircumference of the flat panel display module 10, thereby grounding thegrounding part 32 of the control PCB 30.

The rear contact part 52 and the side contact part 54 are respectivelyattached to the grounding part 32 of the control PCB 30 and the sidepart 18 b of the chassis 18 by glue, an adhesive tape, etc.

Behind the control PCB 30 is provided a PCB cover 70 combined to theflat panel display module 10 and protecting the control PCB 30. The PCBcover 70 includes a rear covering part 72 covering the rear surface ofthe control PCB 30 so as to protect the control PCB 30, and a sidecombining part 74 bent from the PCB covering part 72 and combined to theside part 18 b of the chassis 18.

On the rear covering part 72 is formed a grounding hole 72 acorresponding to the grounding part 32 of the control PCB 30. Thus, therear contact part 52 of the grounding contact member 50 contacts thegrounding part 32 of the control PCB 30 through the grounding hole 72 ain the rear of the PCB cover 70. Further, on the side combining part 74of the PCB cover 70 is formed a cutting part 74 a through which the sidecontact part 54 of the grounding contact member 50 can contact the sidepart 18 b of the chassis 18. Thus, in the state that the groundingcontact member 50 is in contact with the rear surface of the PCB cover70, the PCB cover 70 is easily combined to the flat panel display module10 in the rear of the control PCB 30.

Preferably, the rear covering part 72 has enough size and shape to coverthe whole rear surface of the control PCB 30, and is made of PET(polyethylene terephthalate). Preferably, a double coated adhesive tapecan be employed in combining the rear covering part 72 to the flat paneldisplay module 10.

Preferably, inside the rear covering part 72 is formed a spacing rib 76protruding toward the rear surface of the flat panel display module 10.The spacing rib 76 is placed in a space due to the thickness of thecontrol PCB 30 between the flat panel display module 10 and the PCBcover 70, and supports the PCB cover 70 being combined to the rearsurface of the flat panel display module 10.

The side combining part 74 is combined to the side part 18 b of thechassis 18 by glue, an adhesive tape, a screw, etc. Thus, the PCB cover70 is firmly combined to the flat panel display module 10, therebyeffectively preventing the control PCB 30 from moving.

In the above-described embodiment, the COG type LCD was exemplarilydescribed as a flat panel display apparatus. However, the scope of thepresent invention is not limited to the COG type LCD. For example, inthe case of an ELD (electro luminescence display), if the ELD has acontrol PCB whose length is shorter than the width of a flat paneldisplay module of the ELD, the scope of the present invention can beapplied to the ELD. In the ELD, the flat panel display module comprisesa plurality of organic thin films piled between a positive electrodeformed by an ITO (indium tin oxide) as a transparent electrode and anegative electrode made of metal having a low work function and issupported by a chassis and a mold frame corresponding to the foregoingchassis 18 and the foregoing mold frame 28, and the control PCB isplaced in the rear edge area of the mold frame. Thus, the groundingstructure according to the present invention can be applied to the ELD.

In the above-described embodiment, the grounding part 32 is provided onthe rear surface of the control PCB 30 and contacts the rear contactpart 52 of the grounding contact member 50 behind the control PCB 30.However, the grounding part 32 may be provided in the front of thecontrol PCB 30. In this case, the grounding contact member 50 is placedin front of the control PCB 30 and contacts the grounding part 32 of thecontrol PCB 30.

As described above, there is provided a conductive grounding contactmember 50 including the rear contact part 52 contacting the groundingpart 32 of the control PCB 30, and the side contact part 54 bent fromthe rear contact part 52 and contacting the one edge of the flat paneldisplay module 10, so that the control PCB 30 can be easily grounded inthe case that the length of the control PCB 30 to be placed behind theflat panel display module 10 is shorter than the width of the flat paneldisplay module.

As described above, the present invention provides a flat panel displayapparatus in which a control PCB having the length shorter than thewidth of a flat panel display module is easily grounded and theproduction cost thereof is decreased.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A flat panel display apparatus comprising: a flat panel displaymodule comprising a mold frame and a chassis having a side part; acontrol printed circuit board (PCB) positioned in a rear edge area ofthe flat panel display module and having a conductive grounding part,the control PCB having the length shorter than the width of the flatpanel display module and being placed in an approximate middle portionof the rear edge area of the flat panel display module; a PCB coverpositioned adjacent the control PCB, said control PCB being positionedbetween the PCB cover and the mold frame, wherein said PCB covercomprises a grounding hole exposing the conductive grounding part of thecontrol PCB; and a grounding contact member positioned adjacent the PCBcover opposite the control PCB, said grounding contact member includinga rear contact part contacting the conductive grounding part of thecontrol PCB from outside the PCB cover through the grounding hole, and aside contact part bent from the rear contact part and contacting theside part of the chassis, said grounding contact member grounding thecontrol PCB.
 2. The flat panel display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the grounding contact member comprises a conductive foilmaterial.
 3. The flat panel display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the grounding contact member is attached to the conductivegrounding part of the control PCB by an adhesive.
 4. The flat paneldisplay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the PCB cover includes arear covering part covering the control PCB, and a side combining partbent from the PC3 rear covering part and coupled to the side part of thechassis.
 5. The flat panel display apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the side combining part of the PCB cover includes an openingthrough which the side contact part contacts the side part of thechassis.
 6. The flat panel display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a supporting rib is formed on a rear surface of the mold frame,said supporting rib protruding from the rear surface of the mold frametoward the control PCB and supporting at least a portion of thecircumference of the control PCB so as to leave a space between thecontrol PCB and the rear surface of the mold frame.
 7. The flat paneldisplay apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an edge area of thecontrol PCB is formed with a supporting hole, and the supporting ribincludes a supporting boss protruding toward the control PCB andreceived in the supporting hole of the control PCB.
 8. A liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) comprising: an LCD panel having a substrate on which a LCDdriver integrated chip (IC) is mounted; a backlight assembly provided inthe rear of the LCD panel and illuminating the LCD panel; a mold frame;a chassis coupled to the mold frame and combined to the backlightassembly so as to surround front edges of the LCD display panel and sideparts of the backlight assembly; a control printed circuit board (PCB)positioned in a rear edge area of the backlight assembly and having aconductive grounding part, the control PCB being shorter than the widthof the backlight assembly, and being placed in an approximate middleportion of the rear edge area of the backlight assembly; a flexibleprinted circuit (FPC) connecting the LCD driver IC with the control PCB;a PCB cover positioned adjacent the control PCB, said control PCB beingpositioned between the PCB cover and the mold frame, wherein said PCBcover comprises a grounding hole exposing the conductive grounding partof the control PCB; and a grounding contact member positioned adjacentthe PCB cover opposite the control PCB, said grounding contact memberincluding a rear contact part contacting the conductive grounding partof the control PCB from outside the PCB cover through the groundinghole, and a side contact part bent from the rear contact part andcontacting a side part of the chassis, said grounding contact membergrounding the control PCB.
 9. The LCD according to claim 8, wherein theFPC is shorter than the width of the backlight assembly, and isconnected to the control PCB in an approximate middle portion of theedge area of the LCD panel.
 10. The LCD according to claim 9, whereinthe backlight assembly comprises a light guide plate placed in the rearof the LCD panel and a lamp unit illuminating the light guide plate,wherein the mold frame is combined with the chassis so as to accommodateand support the light guide plate and the lamp unit, and the control PCBis placed in one rear edge area of the mold frame.
 11. The LCD accordingto claim 8, wherein the grounding contact member comprises a conductivefoil material.
 12. The LCD according to claim 8, wherein the groundingcontact member is attached to the conductive grounding part of thecontrol PCB by an adhesive.
 13. The LCD according to claim 8, whereinthe PCB cover includes a rear covering part covering the control PCB,and a side combining part bent from the rear covering part and coupledto the side part of the chassis.
 14. LCD according to claim 13, whereinthe side combining part of the PCB cover includes an opening throughwhich the side contact part contacts the side part of the chassis. 15.The LCD according to claim 8, wherein a supporting rib is formed on arear surface of the mold frame, said supporting rib protruding from therear surface of the mold frame toward the control PCB and supporting atleast a portion of the circumference of the control PCB so as to leave aspace between the control PCB and the rear surface of the mold frame.16. The LCD according to claim 15, wherein an edge area of the controlPCB is formed with a supporting hole, and the supporting rib includes asupporting boss protruding toward the control PCB and received in thesupporting hole of the control PCB.